President Obama talks with Cleopatra Cowley-Pendleton and Nathaniel Pendleton Sr., following the State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Feb. 12, 2013. Mr.and Mrs. Pendleton, whose 15-year-old daughter Hadiya Pendleton was shot and killed last month in Chicago, were guests in the First Lady’s box at the speech

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President Obama signs two copies of his State of the Union address in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House before departing for the U.S. Capitol, D.C., Feb. 12

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President Obama waits with Sergeants at Arms and Members of Congress before entering the House Chamber to deliver the State of the Union address. Standing with the President are, from left: Paul Irving, House Sergeant at Arms: House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va.; Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif; and Terrance Gainer, Senate Sergeant at Arms

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President Obama and Vice President Biden look toward the guests in the First Lay’s box at the State of the Union

Sun Times: President Barack Obama will speak at the Hyde Park Academy on Friday, returning home to push his second-term economic agenda and curbs on gun violence just a few blocks from his Kenwood home – and not far from where 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton was gunned down on Jan. 29.

Obama makes the afternoon trip at the school, 6220 S. Stony Island Ave., as the last of a three-city swing to bolster the plans he discussed in his Tuesday night State of the Union Address. Today Obama is in Asheville, N.C. and tomorrow he is in the Atlanta area.

Boston.com: This image provided by Vogue shows former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., left, with her husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly, during a photo shoot at their home in Tucson, Ariz. The image and accompanying article by John Powers will be published in the March 2013 issue of Vogue

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President Obama arrives to speak at the Linamar factory in Asheville, N.C., Feb 13

President Barack Obama listens to Jeffrey Brower and Dwayne Moore explain the machining of the axle components made for Caterpillar’s large mining trucks during a tour of the Linamar Corporation auto-parts plant in Arden, North Carolina, Feb. 13 (Photo by Pete Souza)

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Steve Benen: The available research shows that no cabinet nominee has ever faced a filibuster. This week, however, as Chuck Hagel’s Defense Secretary nomination reaches the Senate floor, a new level of Republican obstructionism may very well be reached.

“We’re going to require a 60-vote threshold,” [Republican Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma] told [Josh Rogin] …. [Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas] told The Cable, “There is a 60-vote threshold for every nomination.”

Well, no, actually there isn’t. Cornyn has been in the Senate for 11 years, and I have a strong hunch he knows that “every nomination” doesn’t have to clear a “60-vote threshold,” and many haven’t. Why Cornyn is comfortable saying the opposite is anyone’s guess.

The saying is that Presidents don’t get vacations — just changes of scenery. I don’t blame PBO for wanting a change from the Capitol Hill scenery. He’s certainly the hardest working President in my lifetime and I go back almost to Roosevelt (Franlklin, not Theodore!).

I’m confused (maybe.) Just can’t figure out why the GOP is filibustering Hagel when they know he is going to be confirmed.
I get that they oppose because they have no positive contribution to make.
But a historic break with Senate tradition for No gain, just tantrum? I don’t get it.
can anyone at TOD help me out here?

They hate that Hagel basically endorsed then Sen. Obama in 08, went with him on his foreign trip during the 08 campaign, and vouched for his foreign policy bonafides. They’re mad that Hagel admitted that the Iraq war was a mistake and Bush was wrong to send us into an unnecessary war. They’re mad that Hagel agreed to be on Pres. Obama’s national security advisory committee and accepted his nomination as Sec. Def.

So what do they do? They abuse the filibuster rules in the senate by pretending that they have a problem with Hagel’s finances and want to see the last five years. That’s a joke since they had no problem with Romney releasing an incomplete one year tax return.

It’s all to spite Pres. Obama and we know who’s leading the charge — McCain. He hasn’t gotten over losing in 2008.

He had the votes. Boxer and Feinstein had some issues early in the discussion but they were on board.

Harry Reid flat out said after the vote that he never intended on changing the 60-vote rule, which flies in the face of what he led us to believe leading up to it. Then Reid and hopeful apologists made it sound like nominees would not be subject to a filibuster, which was another lie. Because they need Republicans to agree to that on a case-by-case basis and McConnell has to agree. That was the handshake agreement.

“So the confirmation vote for Hagel is pending. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has flatly stated he won’t honor any Republican holds on Hagel’s nomination and he’ll to bring the vote to the floor. But to do so, he still has to get agreement from McConnell to do it. And if McConnell wants to (and so far there’s not much indication he feels otherwise) he can force a cloture vote. In other words, so much for filibuster “reform.” Republicans can still blow up the Senate just because they feel like it.”

I admit my mistake. They did vote against even the watered-down version. But I cannot believe that if Harry Reid had wanted their votes he couldn’t have gotten them, particularly Boxer. Certainly leading up to the vote, Durbin flat out said that they had the votes for the stronger Merkeley version.

Harry Reid (and others) were very annoyed that Merkeley leaked the names of the hesitant Dem’s. Harry was out to punish Merkeley for that instead of really reforming the filibuster. It is now obvious, however, that Harry never intended on the filibuster reform that he led us to believe was in the works.

“Boxer and Feinstein had some issues early in the discussion but they were on board.”

I wish you had shared with us the source(s) on which you based this assertion. By the way, it wasn’t just Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer who had issues with the filibuster reform. Pat Leahey, Carl Levin, Joe Manchini and others were also not on board. I really don’t see how Harry Reid could have singlehandedly gone against the overwhelming majority of his caucus and worked out a deal with McConnell that they didn’t buy into. If that’s what happened, then the majority of Democratic senators are to blame for not stripping him of his leadership.

Again, my opinion is that we should not focus our time and energy attacking Harry Reid as if he was the enemy. This is just my opinion, and I hope that it’s not interpreted as an attack on TOD members I respectfully disagree with on this issue.

I may have been wrong about that. I was thinking of Durbin saying that they had the votes and then the Senate leadership got angry at Merkeley for leaking the names of the hesitant Dem’s. I thought I had heard that Boxer was definitely on board, but she did ultimately vote against the weakened bill. A lot of the reporting afterwards (such as it is and we have to question the reliability) was that the leadership and the questionable Dem’s were more concerned about Merkeley’s ‘betrayal’ than they were about filibuster reform.

No matter what, it was down to getting one of two Senators on board for real reform if Harry Reid had actually wanted it (which he now says he never intended — just procedural stuff but nothing that ends the abuse). I cannot believe that Barbara Boxer or Diane Feinstein would have been the one senator to have killed filibuster reform, if Harry Reid had fought for their votes.

Unless they get 60 votes there will NOT be a vote to confirm. It effectively kills the nomination if the Repubs stay together. When an alleged ‘moderate’ like Susan Collins votes against Hagel in committee, name me five Republicans who will allow this nomination to come to the floor for a vote.

McConnell punked Harry Reid for the SECOND TIME with his handshake agreements. Harry Reid should be fired.

If we can’t get a conservative Repubican as SoD under a Democratic administration, then get ready for Hell if it comes to pass that we need to get a SC Justice..

Calm down, they have 60 Collins, Murkowski, Cochran, McCain and Blunt said they wont vote to filibuster. Isackson said he will follow McCain and their a bunch of low profile GOP sens who wont filibuster but vote against.

I’m right with you! This didn’t have to happen. Harry screwed the entire country when he wimped on changing filibuster rules. Now we won’t get a damned thing done until after the 2014, which even then might not be a happy election if voters get disillusioned BECAUSE nothing’s been done. Oh, I could kick him in shins!! Dammit!

That’s false hope to think that any rule that Harry sets in place now wouldn’t be blown away the second the Repubs got back into the majority. It’s Senate rules, not the Constitution. The plan wasn’t to END the filibuster, it was to change it, so the gridlock would stop and actual work could be done. It’s ridiculous that every friggin’ law requires a SUPER-majority in order to pass. They can be changed at the beginning of EVERY congressional session, no matter what party is in charge, as long as they have a majority. So there’s nothing to stop a Repub majority from sticking it to us anyway — regardless of what happens in this Congressional session. Harry fucked up, plain and simple.

I was going to leave this alone because when I voiced my opinion in disagreement with 57andfemale she some how implied that I was attacking her personally. But here are my two questions, Dudette: If, besides Harry Reid, the the majority, 54 Senate Democrats (actually 52 Dems. and 2 Ind.), wanted a strong filibuster reform how exactly would Harry Reid, (who is accused of wimping) have prevented that from happening? And if he, all by himself, negotiated a cave in to McConnell, why did the majority — 54 Senate Democrats– who supposedly had the votes to get rid of the filibuster, sit there silently and take the deal instead of removing “wimp” Reid from the position of Majority Leader?

Again, my point is not that I agree with the outcome of the filibuster issue. My point is that Harry Reid, who has been a very strong supporter of President Obama, is not the ENEMY. My other point is that Harry Reid was not alone. He is just one of the 55 Senate Democrats and independents. If 54 of those strongly favored changing the filibuster rules I don’t think the supposedly weak leader, Harry Reid, would have stood in their way. My hunch is that he compromised because he did not have the votes in his own caucus. Otherwise his caucus would have (and should have) revolted against him. That’s all I am going to say on this subject.

I agree with both of you, Dudette and faypax. What I can’t get my head around is how do they think losing battle after battle after battle is strengthening for their brand.
losers who lose and lose are by definition LOSERS.

Proving yet again that all their whining about cutting spending is bull. If the goal is to eliminate waste, you’d think a true conservative would embrace sensible reductions where the expenditures aren’t necessary. But nope, that might lighten the pockets of their defense contractor sugar daddies. Can’t have that, now can we?

(Unless they get 60 votes there will NOT be a vote to confirm. It effectively kills the nomination). And Obama should renominate him. I think this is good, the american people can see just how nasty these Ratbulican are and kick them out 2014 for indanger the country

I’m with Harry, because Obama not going to be there for every, everything he pass can get undone 5, 10, 20 years later because the fiiibuster was change. Obama is not calling for a change in the filibuster. We need to keep the Filibuster as is for we can fililbuster those crazy Ratbilican bills in the future.

Do you honestly believe that if Republicans get a majority in the Senate they won’t change the filibuster rules?!? If, god forbid, this insane, uninformed half of the country gives the Senate back to Republicans there will no longer be the filibuster rules under which PBO’s agenda has been crushed. This is a red herring – that we’re in some way preserving the filibuster for our use if we need it. they will shred the filibuster to keep us from using it.

Eggzactly 57! Besides, the change that Harry claimed he was going to implement for MONTHS, wasn’t to get rid of the filibuster. It was to make it so the minority would have to state their objections in public, allow for a reasonable time to debate legitimate concerns, and then let everybody get on with the voting. Perfectly reasonable. By the way, if I got anything right out of my middle school class was that kind of process is “WHAT THE FOUNDING FATHERS INTENDED.” The Rethugs are always claiming that’s important to them. Bastards! Arrgh!

No one can foretell the future with certainty. But I think the hesitation of senior Senators like Pat Leahey, Diane Feinstein, Barbara Boxer Carl Levin, and even Majority Leader Reid himself, about drastic reform of the filibuster rule, stem from their experience of being in the minority in the Senate. Most of the newer Democratic Senators, especially those elected after 2006, do not remember that experience. This was a period when the liberals/leftist/progressives were in love with the the filibuster. Many here may have forgotten, but I distinctly remember when people on our side wanted the Democrats to filibuster right wing Bush appointees, and especially Supreme court justices like Samuel Alito! At the time, It was the Republicans, who were in a majority, who were threatening to get rid of the filibuster by what was then labelled the “nuclear option.” In hindsight I wish the Republicans had gotten rid of the filibuster. But I remember many of us so called liberals/ leftists/progressives condemning the Republican majorities for trampling the rights of minorities in the Senate. But Democratic leaders, with long memories, worked hard to save the filibuster that Republicans have totally abused because of their visceral hatred of President Obama.

Where I agree with you, dun, is that we should not be short-sighted by thinking that Democrats will always hold the White House and be in the majority in the Senate. There may come a time when that is not the case and the only way to stop the crazies from enacting damaging laws may be through a filibuster. Now, I fully understand the persuasive arguments by those who say that Republicans are so crazy that when they take over the Senate they will get rid of the filibuster. I say this is a persuasive argument because they threatened to do so before. In addition, the behavior of the current Republican members of Congress plainly shows that they are not to be trusted. On the other hand, I feel that the majority of Republicans may be crazy, but they are not all stupid. Should they regain the Senate majority and then proceed to get rid of the filibuster it will be gone forever. Like the toothpaste, they won’t be able to put the filibuster back in the tube. One thing that I am absolutely certain about is that neither Democrats nor Republicans can guarantee that they will always be in the majority in the Senate.

Like everyone I am sick of the GOP filibuster abuse that has prevented the President for getting through the Senate nominees that he needs to effectively run the government. Now that we have President Obama re-elected, I wouldn’t even mind us focusing on getting rid of the filibuster in the Senate if Democrats controlled the House of Representatives. We could them ram through the two houses of Congress all his agenda items. We would, of course, be banking on the belief that his policies, like Social Security and Medicare, will end up being effective and indispensable for the American people that Congresses would dare not try to get rid of them. As things stand now, Republicans, some of them as crazy if not more crazy than Republicans in the Senate, controll one house of Congress. I am not quite clear as to why we are so obsessed with the filibuster because when it comes policy nothing can be accomplished without the concurrence of the two houses of Congress. It’s true that ending the filibuster would enable the President to get through the Senate his nominees because only the Senate has a say so when it comes to nominees. But I just don’t see how this would appreciably affect his policies since it requires both houses of Congress to agree on policies. Wouldn’t it be better for us to focus most our time and energies on regaining the majority in both houses of Congress, including a filibuster proof senate, instead of spending so much time and energy, turning on each other, about the Democratic senators’ hesitancy to get rid of the filibuster?

Again I respect people who have a different opinion on this, but what I find distressful is the effort to single out the Majority Leader, who has been a strong supporter of the President on policy, for demonization.

The filibuster agreement they cannot filibuster district court nominees and lower level Nominations!
For example- a vote was scheduled for a district court judge today from Maine, a up or down vote was scheduled, she granted 88 votes and was confirmed.
So, that is better than nothing.
Also, it may be- define lower level nominations? Maybe Cordray and the ATF Guy can get through?

With all due respect, 57andfemale, I think the greatest threat to PBO’s agenda is in the House of Representatives and not the Senate. The filibuster was a major impediment when Democrats controlled the House of Rep. Still, a great deal was accomplished in the President’s first two years in office. Other than filibustering the President’s nominee, (which, I agree, is important because it makes it difficult for him to govern effectively) Republican Senators don’t have to worry about filibustering policy. They can now rely on congress people in the House who are even more crazy and hateful than they are.

Hiya andogriff, still no sign of her :-( Worse, the despot came back today and climbed in to her house…. which is, I’m assuming, what happened in the first place to make my girl run away. Needless to say, I asked him to leave – not very politely.

Yikes!! How very sad!! Just don’t feed him, or you’re stuck with him! Good luck, keeping fingers crossed your little lady finds her way home soon! I have heard tales of cats going home after being away for weeks or even months.

Almost as bad—-was the constant wiping away of flop sweat from his face with his fingers—–his forehead and upper lip and the sides of his face—–bet his deodorant was having to go into high gear—–he was so “noivous”—–not at all ready for prime time. And—-in truth, a lightweight, despite Repub efforts to remake him into something he is not, some kind of (pretend) “savior”.

Maybe the guy from SC that Nikki Haley appointed to the Senate — yeh, “what’s his name” – that guy* He does have extra melanin and certainly has his Tea-cred in order. Or Nikki herself. Or maybe they will call on “rising star” Susanna Martinez. Keep lining them up so we can bowl ’em over.

They don’t seem to realize that there is more to President Obama than the melanin. But as someone stated earlier, they’re not really looking for someone to run for President on their ticket. They just want the look of diversity.

You are absolutely spot-on, Swbluega! This is all about appearances. McCain did something that was somewhat similar when he picked Sarah Palin for VP. It was all about attracting women, and especially the women who had supported Hillary Clinton.

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Itinerary:
President Obama is expected to be in Atlanta between 11:30 a.m. and 2:40 p.m. on Thursday. He’ll be landing at Dobbins Air Force Base and will travel to the College Heights preschool and the Decatur Recreational Center, where he plans to make remarks at 1:20 p.m.

I have never visited the dailycaller before – and shall refrain from going there again. There are wingnuts, who I read to keep informed of their reality – and then there are people who could NEVER pass a mental health test and should never be allowed to own guns.

It seems to be the site of preference for the GOPers that have left FoxNews because they fired the half term governor. When folks think FoxNews is too far left, dailycaller seems all that is left. I think David Plouffe should have left it alone – or maybe he does want the world to see what is the right in America today. Anyhow, to me it is a world of the seriously weird and paranoid.

I lost my first computer by going to some rather nasty places, 99ts. It died a horrible, prolonged death. I promised my new one to never be so fool hearty again. I occasionally dip my toe into MediaMatters, but that’s as adventurous as I get in pursuit of ‘input’ from ‘the other side’.

LOL Lynn – I go to a few places – linked by the good guys (rather like David Plouffe) fingers crossed – so far so good. Major problem with the right – they refuse to even consider another point of view – which is why their viewpoint narrows to the extent given by the rightest of right – half of the rwnjs are now calling Fox News too far to the left!!!!!!!

I do like David Plouffe, but I’m not willing to risk my trusty replacement ‘puter, 99ts. After all, then I couldn’t lurk around here enjoying the lovely informative participants of this wonderful oasis!!

OT I just wish the rwnjs would answer one question. Who is their dream candidate?

This is just an extension of LaPierre’s press conference, Plouffe is just linking to this b/c the media pay attention to what he puts out in public: Which is connecting “those who could NEVER pass a mental health test” w/ the Republican party.

No worries LP, it’s was Plouffe’s tweet, and he obviously wanted to draw everyone’s attention to yet more insanity from the NRA nutjob – and the fact that the Daily Caller hosted his insanity. Incredible stuff.

No no – I wasn’t offended by the post lovelyplains – I just thought David could pick his links a little better – good to know there is nothing sane about that website – rather sad that some folks believe it

“Atlanta Mayor Kasin Reed used his annual “State of the City” address to announce his political plans. After Reed summed up his accomplishments and goals of his administration, he turned to speculation about his political future.

Reed said, “As you may know the President of the United States will be here tomorrow. So I want you to be the first to know that after a great deal of thought and consideration, I have decided to offer myself for re-election as Mayor.”

Loud cheers erupted and the Mayor seemed to love it. Reed also touted the proposal to build a new Falcons stadium, saying it’s the right decision at the right time.”

Here is a cat story for you Chips. A friend’s cat went away. After a while Kitty came back home. But Kitty was not the same. She looked the same, but acted differently. After about a year, the original Kitty showed up!

Good evening all. Boy what a day. I was laughing at the most inopportune times just thinking about #watergate #thebiggulp #rubiomovies et al. Co-workers must have thought I was nuts.

So I was watching the WH’s enhanced SOTU address and cruising twitter and when I cam back I was so far behind. Then youtube.com/whitehouse replayed the entire thing and I was gone again.

I tried keeping up but every time I thought I had caught up: BAM! a ‘new’ post with over 100 posts. So I spent post SOTU just running behind you all trying to catch up. LOL

I loved all the posts. You guys had me so entertained that it was difficult for me to jump to the most recent posts and skip all the rest. So today I’m soo behind, but I wanted to say how much I appreciate you all before I go back and try to catch up with what I missed. Carry on.

o/t Could you all imagine how far along our econ and development would be if we didn’t have obstructionists in power? I’ve grown to hate them with the heat of a thousand suns. They are just bad people.

It’s a great family here LS. Yes, it’s sometimes hard to keep up with the speed demons around here, but so worth the time, knowledge, inspiration and fun! I’m liberal and proud right beside you! [high-five]

Lunar, the though of what we could achieve as a country without the obstructionists just makes me weep. We would have had a jobs act, our infrastructure would be repaired, the economy would be thriving, housing booming. They are, as you said, bad people.

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Here’s are some of the cases that may come up in the next few weeks.

DECISIONS: As early as Tuesday, Feb. 19 we could have decisions.

Affirmative Action:
It’s probably a bit early, but we could get this big case: A major affirmative action case that could severely limit the use of race in admissions programs at public universities and colleges. All eyes will be on Justice Anthony Kennedy, who has said that diversity is a compelling government interest, but is seen as a swing vote on the issue. Only eight justices will participate in the case as Justice Elena Kagan is recused because of her role in the case at her previous job as solicitor general.

Government Secrecy:
Lawyers, journalists and human rights groups want to be able to challenge the constitutionality of a secret government program that expands the authority of federal officials to conduct secret electronic surveillance of non-United States citizens located outside the United States. But first, the Supreme Court will decide whether the groups have the legal right to bring the case.

Human Rights:
The court will rule on whether human rights groups can hold corporations liable in the U.S. for alleged violations of international law committed abroad. The case is being closely watched by big business.

Dog Sniffs and the Fourth Amendment:
Some day the court will be asked about the search and seizure implications of highly technical law enforcement devices. Not in this case. Instead, the justices will consider whether the sniff of a police dog on the front porch of a person’s home constitutes a search and requires a warrant.

UPCOMING ARGUMENTS:

Genetically Altered Seeds — Bowman v. Monsanto Co. — Feb. 19:
An Indiana farmer is fighting Monsanto in a major case regarding patents of genetically modified food. In this case it is a soy bean seed that is immune to the weed killer Roundup.

DNA — Maryland v. King — Feb 26:
The court will hear arguments in a case that pits the needs of law enforcement against the privacy rights of those who have been arrested for a crime. While states allow the collection of DNA for those convicted of a crime, the lower courts have split on whether states can collect DNA without a warrant from people who have only been arrested. The federal government and 28 states allow the collection of DNA from arrestees.

Voting Rights — Feb 27:
At issue is a key section of the historic Voting Rights Act — Section 5 — that requires states and jurisdictions with a history of discrimination to have any changes in voting procedures pre-approved by federal officials in Washington. The court agreed to hear the case just days after the last election. Opponents of the law say Congress was wrong in 2006 to extend Section 5 for 25 more years.

DOMA — March 27:
The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) denies federal benefits to couples who are legally married in their state. Challengers say it is unconstitutional, and the Obama administration agrees.

One night, a drunk comes stumbling into a bar and says to the bartender: “Drinks for all on me including you, bartender.” So the bartender follows the mans orders and says: “That will be $36.50 please.” The drunk says he has no money so the bartender slaps him around and throws him out.

The next night the same drunk comes in again and orders a drink for everyone in the bar including the bartender. Again the bartender follows instructions and again the drunk says he has no money. So the bartender slaps him around and throws him out.

On the third night he comes in, the drunk orders drinks for all except the bartender. “What, no drink for me?” asks the bartender.

Jackie G, I join you in asking our fearless Bobft how a “point of order” will work in, for example, moving the Hagel nomination forward. I hope he comes back to explain this to us, because if it’s possible, it would be great.

You absolutely MUST go on a cruise! Best way to travel EVER:) NOT on Carnival…the frat house of cruise lines! I wouldn’t even go on Princess for the same reason. Don’t let this deter you from going….truly is a wonderful way to see many places, unpack once…great food, entertainment and relaxation….

Never been on one. Since my MIL passed away, our sons gave us a deposit of about 1/3 the cost of a cruise, figuring we deserved it after all that time of not going anywhere because of needing to care for her. End of August we are doing an Alaska cruise on Holland America. My sister swears by Celebrity.

Japa — I LOVE Holland! Service is terrific, chefs and waite staff the main dining room are so accommodating (I tend to redesign the menus); they have me spoiled. Last two cruises have been on Royal Caribbean — they’re “ok” nothing like Holland; had to speak with mgmt to resolve simple requests…

I went took the family on Royal Caribbean. We had the best time ever as a family on vacation. The kids were little, and didn’t initially want to go, but it was always on my bucket list. We flew to Miami and went early and stayed a few extra days there before the cruise to visit with my parents who live in FL. Stayed at the Hyatt there…took a 7 day cruise to the W. Caribbean…Haiti, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Cozumel. It was wonderful! Got to swim with the sting rays in Cayman, saw the Mayan ruins at Tulum. We hiked up falls in Jamaica..and saw some awesome beaches.Part of my years growing up was in the Caribbean, so this was like old times for me. My kids were 4 and 7 at the time…and they had so much fun…they had kids supervised things to do for them and they had a ball! On the last night they asked if we could stay another week:) Ummmm….no, unless they were buying!

The food was superb…you could eat yourself silly if you wanted to, I never did…but you could:) Husband gambled a little bit…we just took turns with the kids at night. I went to sleep early because I was awake at 4:30 am every day…would go up and get some coffee and read a book until about 7am and head back to the cabin and get the family for breakfast together….just nice and relaxing.

Highly recommend it, at least once. No packing and unpacking…meals included. I think that it’s the best value for travel that there is. I’d go again.

Thanks for the feedback. I guess I’d rather spend as little time as possible traveling and more time actually doing things at the destination. But my husband has suggested it before so I guess I should keep an open mind. Just hope I don’t hear about more problems on cruise lines any time soon. :-|

Actually, there is lots to do on those ships. I went on a 7 days cruise with Royal Caribbean Adventure of the Seas. We went to Bermuda. I had to check on my millions – Lol. I had a ball. Lots of things to do…shows, movies, water stuff, lots of good food. It was a great and I look forward to doing it again. This was not like my 18 month tour on that USN ship thats for sure!

Oh I know there’s lots to do on them and I enjoy the water, I just prefer to spend the seeing and doing time IN the actual locale that I’m interested in visiting. A dinner boat ride around a bay, a morning fishing trip, visit to coral reefs or a shoreline tour of some picturesque cliffs? Absolutely. But spend a week or more on a floating petri dish with no escape, doing stuff I could be doing in my own city? Nah, that ain’t me!

While looking at Souza pictures of SOTU, I came across a picture where it look like Lindsey Graham is ignoring shaking POTUS hand. I thought I couldn’t hate that piece of crap of a human being any more than I already do, I was wrong. Lindsey Graham is a disgrace.

Oops, meant to copy this from the article:
“It was icy cold and the rain was falling in sheets. When the storm started, I thought that lightning might strike the rod, so I decided it was worth seeing whether – if it DID strike – I could get the shot at exactly the right moment.” Armed with a 50mm lens, Filippo waited. And waited. More than two hours. And then it happened. Twice. “The first bolt was huge and lit up the sky, but unfortunately I missed it. I had better luck the second time, and was able to snap a couple of images of the dome illuminated by the bolt.”

Awesome anecdote. You know the TV correspondents get all fame, but its the men/women behind the lens who deserve the same if not more! I really appreciate photographers, and always link to photo contests for the majesty of the moments they are able to capture.

All these proposals the President laid out and is taking to the People, also poll tested very well.
The Republicans are falling into another trap, by saying no to everything, the economy will be stagnant for next 2 years.
That’s why going into cities and Towns and updating People, educating them, getting them ready for 2014. Nothing will pass the House, Nothing. And he knows that.
He will use this as a campaign issue for 2014.

And this exactly where we who passionately support the President must come in. Rather than wasting our energy on filibuster, which is rightly or wrongly now a done deal, we should be laser focused on how to retake the House, and increase our majorities in the Senate for a filibuster proof Senate, in 2014. I bet you if we started a fund raiser today, and a grassroots organization, for Ashley Judd, turtle McConnell will pay attention, and may have to eat his words about not being “interested in an 11th-hour negotiation.”

Here’s the NRA bs from LaPierre that was in the Daily Caller today so you don’t have to go there. What a bunch of bullshit this is! If he was so damn sure of himself and this bunk, he wouldn’t have gone to the RWNJ site to put this out…it would have been in a mainstream paper with some credibility….but alas, it was meant to cause fear of the scared paranoid delusional idiots that think this guy tells the truth.
Anyway, when I read the first one, I knew the guy was so full of shit..Phoenix is NOT the kidnapping capital of the world…not even close. I stopped there. That lie was all I needed to see….and there are much more where that came from. What a lying sack of shit he is. Pathetic.

Wednesday afternoon, National Rifle Association Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre published a bizarre, paranoid screed on the Daily Caller outlining a series of wildly implausible scenarios in which (among other things) the police will cease to exist because of the deficit and al-Qaeda will provoke the government into stealing your guns. Here are the nine most absurd quotes from LaPierre’s piece: